The Dehumanization Of Carver's The Blind Man

Through the characterization of the narrator, Carver manages to discuss the effects of stereotypes and their shortcomings. The narrator immediately demonstrates his dislike for Robert in his first words: “The blind man” (Carver 100). Using this phrase instead of the man’s actual name dehumanizes the blind man. Readers find out that the narrator’s attitude towards blind people comes from motion pictures, which is deemed quite unreasonable. He had the misconception that the blind man “moved slowly and never laughed” (Carver 100). Therefore, the narrator disliked blind people since they lacked certain social qualities, according to movies. In addition, he pictured every blind person with a seeing-eye dog and black sunglasses. This helplessness

Then, the readers don’t see change in the narrator till the group has dinner: “The blind man had right away located his foods, he knew just where everything was on his plate. I watched with admiration as he used his knife and fork on the meat” (Carver 104). Although the narrator still dehumanizes Robert by referring to him as “the blind man”, the first sparks of change light within the narrator. After viewing Robert eat his food, he notices that the blind are not completely helpless as he once thought. The use of the word “admiration” suggests his bewilderment in these new findings, and how little by little Robert is disproving stereotypes. This reaction allows the readers to infer that the narrator is not a provincial thinker. Lastly, the final stage of change can be seen towards the end of the piece as the two men attempt to draw a cathedral: “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything. ‘It’s really something,’ I said” (Carver 109). The narrator found himself incapable of adequately describing the cathedral even with the use of his eyes; however, he felt fully capable after closing his